Fort Benning officials moving quickly to comply with Department of Defense name-change order
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — The day after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered Fort Benning to be restored to its original name, post officials are moving swiftly to comply.
'The Fort Benning Garrison team is rapidly working through the renaming process of updating our systems, facilities, and infrastructure in a deliberate and phased manner,' according to a statement from the post released late Wednesday. 'As we update assets across Fort Benning in honor of Distinguished Service Cross recipient Cpl. Fred G. Benning, we will also continue to honor the legacy of Lt. Gen. Hal Moore's storied military service and Julia Moore's family and casualty notification advocacy in a manner that celebrates their significant contributions to the local community and the Army.'
The post is now named for a World War I corporal who was decorated for his actions in France. The names of Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife Julia — who are buried in the Main Post Cemetery — have been removed.
'None of these changes happen without the support of our mission, and community partners at the local, city, and state level,' the Fort Benning statement continued. 'We are forever grateful for their contributions and support of the installation, our Service Members, and their Families. While the Army has constantly adapted and changed during nearly 250 years, it has remained mission focused. Likewise, the Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning garrison remain focused on training Soldiers and leaders who are ready to deploy and fight tonight, and supporting the readiness and quality of life of their Families.'
Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson said the city would continue to support the fort under a new name.
'I mean, here's the thing. We don't get a vote,' Henderson said. 'They never called me and asked me for my opinion. And, so, we're going to do what we've always done, and that is support soldiers. We understand that from a human capital standpoint and from a financial standpoint, they're vital to our region's success. So, we're going to continue to support the soldiers at the Maneuver Center of Excellence, whether it's called for more Fort Benning. We're just going to focus on the soldiers.'
As Fort Benning officials work through the name change, a former Garrison Commander said the garrison command will do much of the heavy lifting.
'They immediately go into analysis and evaluation mode,' said retired Brig. Gen. Andy Hilmes. 'In this case, there will be many signs that need to be replaced. So, inventory and signage and figure out how many signs will need to be updated and changed. And that's everything from the access control points to normal signage along streets, signage out front of buildings and headquarters. It could be something as simple as the water towers. And do we need to repaint the water towers? Based on what's what's currently on them. So. So they're in gathering mode right now. But my guess is, having just done this less than two years ago, they have a pretty good sense of what will need to be done to properly apply labels and branding, if you will, to everything on the post.'
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff took exception to the action.
'I think this was a bad decision by Secretary Hegseth, and I think it's trying to drag us backward,' Ossoff said. 'Why should the most prestigious, the most important U.S. Army facility in the country be named after a Confederate general who fought to preserve slavery and who killed U.S. Army soldiers on the battlefield?'
He does not buy that it is not named for Henry L. Benning.
'And I know that the secretary is saying, well, they found a different Benning,' Ossoff said. 'We all know what's going on here. No one is fooled by this sleight of hand. This is an effort to restore a name that honored a man who fought to preserve slavery. I think it's a deliberate provocation. I think it's a slap in the face to my black constituents. I think it's divisive, and I think it's wrong.'
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